When police were called to the scene of a fire and an explosion, what they found was not what they expected.
According to Columbiana County Sheriff Brian McLaughlin, forty-eight marijuana plants and several grow lights were found at the scene of the investigation in Leetonia. The drug task force is reportedly investigating the residence for running a grow operation.
Police were called out just before 1 p.m. on May 4 to a house on State Route 558 to investigate a fire and an explosion, where the primary damage from the fire was in the basement.
“Significant damage to the house, definitely not habitable. As far as time out, approximately a half an hour,” said Second Assistant Chief Frank Nulf, of the Columbiana Fire Department.
Sheriff McLaughlin reported that the marijuana and grow lights were found in the course of the investigation, though he noted that charges will not be filed until after the lab results are in.
One person inside the home was brought to the hospital after the explosion, and is now at Akron Children’s Hospital Burn Center, according to reporting by WFMJ. Police have not yet released the identity of the injured person, nor details about the extent of their injuries.
Sheriff: 48 marijuana plants found during Leetonia explosion investigation https://t.co/TP0xhLIsWi
— 21WFMJNews (@21WFMJNews) May 5, 2021
The cause of the fire and explosion are still under investigation by the fire department and state fire marshal.